Alcohol and Divorce

A person with an alcohol problem may have trouble functioning in everyday life, putting his or her family through a wide range of emotional complications. If you are considering getting a divorce from an alcoholic spouse, you are not alone in your struggles. In fact, alcohol is often cited as a top cause for divorces. Divorce rates among couples in which one member abuses or is dependent on alcohol are four times as common as in couples who face no alcohol problems.

Why Alcohol Leads to Divorce

Experts categorize people with alcohol problems as either alcohol abusers or alcoholics:

• Alcohol abusers may find themselves drinking alcohol daily, for extended periods of time, and may remove themselves from work, family, or school obligations.
• Alcoholics have become completely dependent on alcohol to function. If an alcoholic tries to stop drinking, he or she might suffer severe physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, making the problem even more difficult to overcome.

Some people with alcohol problems are able to hide their alcohol abuse even from their doctors and loved ones. Some people are even able to function in everyday society despite their alcohol problems, and for this reason, among others, many refuse to get help for their condition. As a result, spouses, family members, and friends all suffer as they neglect their own needs to cope with those of the alcohol abuser.

Contact Us

Getting a separation or divorce from an alcoholic spouse is never an easy decision to make. The Austin divorce lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP, understand the difficulty behind this highly-emotional issue and work closely with our clients to help them deal with their struggles in the most painless way possible. For help with your separation or divorce case, contact us today at 512-472-2431.